This is like a lighter version of the O'Dell Extra Special Red Ale I would venture a guess. Hits that 1/2" white head range, bright red appearance with ample clarity. Aroma was mildly hoppy first, then as much in the taste. The hopping rate kept the mouthfeel in hoppy territory and kept it from becoming too much like Killian's with its red/amber ale malt deadwood flavor trappings.

Taste and Mouthfeel - Very hopy in the taste as well, but not getting bitter until the finish. Most of the flavor of the hops themselves comes in the beginning and middle. Also tastes primarily as having Cascade hops. Texture is well-balanced.

Drinkability - Good tasting, but not terribly complex, as most of the taste is just hops. Very drinkable though.

Far better than your average red ale, this beer seems to have the hopping that I wanted but didn't find in their ipa.

Pours out a good hearty ruby red color with ample clarity and professionalism in its appearance. 1/2" off white head on it, good retention, stickly lace down one side of the glass.

Taste was hoppy, it led, the red malt flavor that I'm not necessarily a big fan of played second fiddle, I liked that it was carbonated and hoppy enough to prevent any soggy wood mouthfeel that is typical of marginal red ales to creep on me. This is a better than average red ale, in fact, its probably a top 20%er.

Really pretty picture of this one when it pours out, reddish-amber, but with lots of gleaming to it. 1/2" off white head, good retention and the lace is sticky down the side of the glass.

Aroma fought with the hops and whatever that malt is that subdues everything else in a red ale. But the taste and mouthfeel allow the hops to shine more than they do in the average red ale. Carbonation stays high enough to keep that wooden/damp mouthfeel that is typical for red ales. Probably a top tier red ale.

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a straight-sided clear glass 16oz mug/stein. Best by 05/15/13 on label. Single purchased by my brother Greg from a Minneapolis area bottle shop for $1.99.

A: Very deep almost plummy red with 1-2 fingers of soft beige big-bubbled head with average retention and a couple of good lines of lacing.

S: Heavy pine hops aroma with some grapefruit, floral, and resin qualities. The malt contribution is pretty heavy on the burnt caramel aroma. There is not a lot of yeast character.

T: The flavor is too sweet and caramel malt heavy for me, and I wish they had substituted some of the dark 80-120L caramel malt for 40L as the plum and burnt, buttery caramel flavors are not a great match for the piney, resiney, citrus hoppiness. There is a roasted maltiness aspect in there as well. The beer is certainly drinkable but has a bit too much caramel malt for my taste for this style. I know it is striving to be a West Coast style red ale, but the dark malt component is too heavy-handed for me.

M: I think this beer is as drinkable as a beer with this much darker caramel malt can be. The sweetness and roastiness is not cloying but does hamper the drinkability. The body is easily medium if not a little more which is great for the style. The carbonation is lower than average as it should be.

O: Odell Red Ale is a beer tha a lot of people will love for the intense piney bitterness and roasty dark caramel maltiness. For me, it was just a bit too much plum and caramel flavor in the end and it didn't work as well with the intense pine and resin hoppiness for me.